San Francisco 49ers fan favorite NaVorro Bowman won't have to move out of the Bay Area. The free agent All-Pro linebacker will be signing a one-year deal worth $3 million with the Oakland Raiders, per NFL Network and ESPN.
Former #49ers LB NaVorro Bowman is signing a 1-year deal with the #Raiders, source says. That was fast.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 16, 2017
Former 49ers' LB NaVorro Bowman is signing a one-year, $3 million deal with the Raiders, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 16, 2017
On October 13, the 49ers announced that they would be releasing Bowman. San Francisco came "very close" to completing a trade deal that would have sent Bowman to the New Orleans Saints, which Bowman didn't prefer as a destination. Instead, the 49ers decided to allow the long-time fan-favorite to go to any team of his choosing.
After being an every-down player since becoming a full-time starter in 2011, Bowman became openly frustrated when his playing time was reduced during a Week 5 contest against the Indianapolis Colts. He played in 58 of 76 defensive snaps against the Colts and saw Brock Coyle replace him for two series.
A conversation between the 49ers and Bowman's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, over the plan to reduce the linebacker's playing time resulted in the player and his representative requesting a trade.
Bowman, who is in his eighth NFL season, was drafted out of Penn State by the 49ers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has sustained two major injuries to his left leg since January of 2014. Bowman appeared in just four games in 2016 after a torn Achilles ended his season last October. The injury came nearly 13 months after his return from gruesome ACL and MCL tears.
This season, Bowman has 38 total tackles and one pass defensed. He ranks 47th among linebackers in tackling efficiency, according to Pro Football Focus. Bowman's overall grade through five games this season is the lowest of his career.
Bowman has earned AP First-Team All-Pro honors four times in his career (2011-13, 2015), as well as three trips to the Pro Bowl (2013-14, 2016). During his career, he has appeared in 89 games with 74 starts and compiled 808 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, seven forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and 28 passes defensed.
No offsets on Niners guarantees this year so this is all icing on the cake. He gets paid by both teams. https://t.co/xrRuOD0573
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 16, 2017
Bowman was scheduled to earn $6.75 million in base salary this season with $4.7 million of the amount fully guaranteed. The 49ers will pay $6.75 million to Bowman on top of the $3 million he will earn with Oakland. In 2018, Bowman will account for $4.774 million of dead money against the 49ers' salary cap.
